My wife (Dr. Julie)and I are natural care physicians working in Freeport Illinois. We also raise Alpacas on our farmette outside of town. Having practiced in Chicagoland for 20 years we are very much enjoying the more rural lifestyle. I write a monthly newsletter for my patients and colleagues that I will post on this site so others may share.

Monday, April 02, 2007

FHN ComplementaryMedicine Monthly NewsletterApril 2007

Spring is the time we clean the house and get out all the winter clutter and dirt.The body is no different, it needs a good spring cleaning also.

The Chinese say that the “liver predominates” in the spring.After a winter of heavy food, holiday binging, and not much exercise, the liver awakens and gets things moving. Gallbladder flare-ups are common, as are gallbladder channel headaches. As the qi begins to move and the liver system becomes more active, stagnant toxins may become more apparent! So we start to get these spring symptoms, the phlegm starts moving; the eyes water; the sinuses gush; and Americans all over rush to find something - anything - to stuff that unsightly phlegm back in deeper than ever. The solution is the phlegm and its accompanying toxins and parasites must come out.

The liver wants nothing more than a spring cleaning - for most, this means fasting and cleansing diets. However, most Americans are overfed year-round. Few Americans fast voluntarily. In our not-so-distant ancestry, fasting was common. No food? What are you going to eat? In springtime, you can plant food, but there's nothing to harvest until later - it's a historically common time to go hungry.

So am I telling you to stop eating? No, but we need to make some dietary changes and allow the natural cleansing to start to work. . It is a natural part of the cycle of life. If winter didn't kill you off, it's time to get moving!

Start with what you are eating…..lighten it up!

Here are some suggestions:

Granny smith apples

Beets

Carrots

Pears

Lemon

Lime

Miso soup

Rice

Vegetables

We also do a couple of other things to expedite the process.To help the liver and intestine cleanse we have a medical food product called Ultraclear that we put patients on to help the process (no we don’t sell this without seeing the patient first to make sure it is right for them).We also use Milk Weed Thistle (Silymarum) Capsules to help the liver function better and repair any damage it may have.

Followers

About Me

Since 1985, Glenn Smith has been providing his services in a natural-care, family-practice office. After all these years, he is still amazed at the body's ability to respond and heal naturally. Dr. Smith specializes in Acupuncture, Naturopathy, Naprapathy, and Chiropractic care. After completing undergraduate studies in Mechanical Engineering at Valparaiso University, Dr. Smith received a Doctor of Naprapathy Degree from the Chicago National College of Naprapathy - where he met his wife, Dr. Julie Smith. He then earned his Doctor of Chiropractic Degree from the National Chiropractic College in Lombard, where he was honored with the Academic Program Development Award. He is board certified and licensed in Acupuncture, Naturopathy and Naprapathy. Dr. Smith is a member of several associations, including the American Chiropractic Association, Illinois Chirpractic Society, and Illinois Acupuncture Federation. Dr. Smith is married to his partner, Dr. Julie Smith. They enjoy an active life with their two children, and can often be found playing insturments and singing in local musical groups as well as attending the alpaca herd.